RESOURCES
(back to Resources home)

Protocols for Embalming Donated Animals

Tufts University
Texas A&M University



TUFTS UNIVERSITY¹

DOGS: After the cadaver is stretched to full extension, an incision is made one cm dorsal to the course of the external jugular vein and the common carotid artery is exteriorized. An appropriate size metal cannula is inserted (slip hub cat #s 708701, 708719, or 708727; The Dodge Chemical company, 165 Cambridge Park Drive, Box 193, Cambridge, MA 02140, 1-800-462-5121). The cannula is fastened within the artery and infused with the following solution: Permaflow (Dodge Chemical Company) diluted 1:2 with lukewarm water and injected into the cannula at a flow rate of 300 ml/min with a peristaltic pump (Fisher Scientific). The Permaflow solution is allowed to remain in the animal for approximately 10 minutes (or longer if time permits). The embalming solution is pumped into the animal at approximately 300 ml/min flow rate. Stock embalming solution is procured from Hydrol Chemical Company (1-800-220-7375, Yeadon, PA). The concentrated embalming solution is made up of the following chemicals:

Concentrated Formaldehyde 13% (concentrated in a 37% saturated solution)
Phenol 13%
Ethanol 32%
Propylene Glycol 42%
Maquat (Thymol) 1% (added as a solute - ads minimally to volume)

The stock embalming solution is diluted 1 part with 3 parts of water and pumped into the animal (yielding an effective formalin level of 3.25%). As the embalmed solution starts flowing into the animal the external jugular vein is punctured to force out blood along with the previously injected Permaflow solution. The animal is exsanguinated until the flow from the jugular vein indicates fixed blood (light-dark dirty brown). The external jugular vein is tied off and the embalming solution infusion is continued until the muscles feel firm. In our experience, a large dog (30 kg and above) requires 7-10 gallons (30-40 liters) of embalming solution. If the abdomen is found to be bloated, the stomach is trocarized with a 14-Ga needle to evacuate gas. This reduces intra-abdominal pressure and permits passage of embalming solution into the pelvic limbs. 100-200 ml of the embalming solution is injected into each of the abdominal and thoracic cavities. If any of the muscles feel soft, they are spot injected with an appropriate amount of embalming solution.

CATS:
After isolating the common carotid artery, a 23 Ga catheter (Baxter, Wingless quick-cathR ; Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Deerfield, IL, 60015) is introduced into the artery and the needle is withdrawn and discarded. The catheter is connected to a small-bore tube attached to the peristaltic pump and embalming fluid is pumped at a flow rate of 50 ml per minute. A 4-kg cat usually takes 1 liter of embalming solution to fix properly. Spot injection of cavities and muscles is done if necessary as described above.

 

TEXAS A&M¹²
(Disclaimer: Texas A&M University initiated its donor program on 5/15/00. They are still in the process of fine-tuning this protocol.)

Formalin Embalming Solution with Propylene Glycol (FES/PG):

10% Propylene Glycol 10 gallons
3% Phenol 3 gallons
5.4% Formalin (2% Formaldehyde) 5.4 gallons (of 37% soln.)
___________________________
q.s. to 100 gallons with water

Pre-euthanasia:
1. Administer IV Heparin (200U/lb) immediately before euthanasia
2. Euthanize via standard protocol.

Embalming Procedure:
1. Catheterize the common carotid artery and the external jugular vein.
-Make a mid-ventral skin incision in the middle half of the neck.
-Bluntly dissect on the midline between the paired sternohyoideus muscles to expose the trachea.
-Expose the right common carotid artery by exposing the carotid sheath from the right dorsolateral
surface of the trachea.
-It is not necessary to dissect away the vagosympathetic nerve trunk.
-Nick the carotid artery and advance a catheter toward the heart--firmly tie a string ligature to keep
the catheter in place; then advance another catheter toward the head --firmly tie a string ligature.
-Expose the left external jugular vein (through the same skin incision) and catheterize in similar
fashion as the carotid artery.
2. Inject approximately 40 ml of One Point Solution (1:1 One Point Solution: water) into the carotid
catheter toward the heart.
3. Next pump FES/PG into the carotid catheters (2-2.5 psi), leaving the jugular catheters open to drain.
4. Continue perfusing into both carotid catheters until the tissues of the head (esp. the tongue) are firmed
up; then close off carotid catheter toward the head and pump only into the one toward the heart.
5. Perfuse animal into the remaining carotid artery cannula with FES/PG at 2-2.5 (allow external jugular
vein cannulas to remain open until most of the blood is flushed out - OR can begin to smell formalin in
the solution draining from the catheter).
6. Perfuse approximately 5-7 gallons per 100 lbs. of body weight.
7. Close off trachea.
-Gently expose the trachea and cut 1/2 way through from the ventral aspect between tracheal rings.
-Push cotton down the trachea toward the lungs to plug the airway.
-Place a piece of wood dowel into the cut end and place a full encircling string ligature to secure.
-Allow all tissues to "fall back" into place and re-expose the sternohyoideus muscles as best as
possible.

Post-embalming:
1. Clip and wash cadaver, paying special attention to cleaning the feet, ears and anal area (scrubbing these
areas with a dilute nolvasan or betadine solution is recommended for disinfection).
2. Soak cadaver in vat containing embalming solution (with phenol) for 3 days.
3. Remove cadaver; apply a cheesecloth covering over paws and head.
4. Latex inject through carotid catheter at 3 ml/lb or until firm pressure is felt while injecting. It is better
to under-inject than to over-inject.
5. Clip carotid catheter very short.
6. Tightly bag the cadaver and store in the cooler; cadavers should not be stacked upon one another.